Another Bike Ride Report AND ANOTHER CONTEST!!

First an update on the bike rides, then, if you read til the end, you'll learn about a new contest. Yes, another one.

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This is the report from the bike ride to the Mission Butterfly Park from Tom & Louise who are leading the trips until Lanny & Donna return to our fold.

We had a great ride. Weather was favorable with warm temperatures. Winds were light on the way south to the park and picked up when we arrived. On the way back we had a tail wind most of the way back to the parking lot.
The number and variety of butterflies we saw was much greater than in the past. As we finished the visit, we encountered Carol Goolsby who entertained us with information about some of the plants and how necessary they are for the survival of butterflies. We have her card. She works at Rancho El Charco also, does bicycle tours there. She has established a native tree forest there.

She is willing to come to the park to do a presentation on butterflies and native plants. She is a very interesting and engaging speaker. And, yes, she knows we are nudists - it was funny when I told her - she giggled and became slightly flustered, just kept giggling. Great pictures, Tom.

Next week the ride will be the McAllen Bike Trail. Tuesday, Dec. 9th.

We will queue by the front gate to leave at 9am.

The trail extends from Trenton Road south to Bus. 83 along Col. Rowe Blvd. It's a total of 9 miles and other than a few street crossings it is level and paved, and entirely off the road. We'll venture into some neighborhoods to see the large homes and Christmas decorations, then stop along the trail at Gotti's, near Nolana, for lunch. Bring a bike lock! +++++++++++++

Now, the next contest.

From our fearless newsletter editor, John, comes this:

We have been the editors of the Sandpiper newsletter since May of 2008. This newsletter belongs to all members of Sandpipers. As such, we believe that it is time to give this periodical a name that reflects who we are and what we are all about.

Naming this periodical is a big responsibility and since it belongs to all SPR members, we need your input as to what name should be placed on the flagstaff.

Several names have been bandied about including “Voice”, “Nudepress”, “Sandpaper” (Sorry, John, that's already the name of this blog. It's mine, I tell you, mine!) and “Sandbur”. Sandbur was the name of the SPR newsletter in the early days when there were lots of sandburs in the park. However, with proper control the amount of sandburs has decreased dramatically and this name seems somewhat inappropriate.

As members of Sandpipers here is where you come in.

It will be your responsibility to suggest a name befitting this newsletter and our image to the outside world. We are seeking suggestions to name this newsletter. We will take all suggestions and compile a list and the top three names will be submitted to the membership to vote on.

The top vote getter will become the new name of our monthly publication.

Please submit your suggestion via email to:

SPRNewsletter@gmail.com

or to

John at jwbritton@earthlink.net

or to

Karen at karen@sandpipersresort.com

or to

SueZ at zabrit@earthlink.net

or drop a note off at

the office, or

John at Lot 5, or

SueZ at Lot 38.

(OR...leave a comment on this blog and I'll be sure John gets it...and you'll also then be entered into my December Comment Contest. Two birds with one stone!)

and you can be anonymous.

We need your input, so please think about what our image should be and submit a suggestion. We will enter a sample of our newsletter at the 2009 AANR conventions for consideration in their annual awards program.

The Editors

From the winning entries we will draw one name who will get a prize!

(Can't tell you what that prize is...I actually have been sworn to secrecy, it's that good!)